Darwin should display its soul: new mayor

Darwin's incoming lord mayor says she wants to see the city embrace its tropical lifestyle and become a destination for visitors, rather than a gateway to other places.

Katrina Fong Lim looks set for a crushing win in Darwin's mayoral election held on the weekend, with counting on Monday showing she had about 57 per cent of the vote, more than double that of incumbent Graeme Sawyer, her nearest rival.

Speaking with AAP on Monday she said Darwin should see a big influx of US troops and workers on the giant Inpex gas project in coming years as an opportunity rather than a worry.

She said she wanted Darwin to be a clean, safe and accessible city while she was lord mayor.

"Sometimes Darwin is just seen as a gateway to somewhere, but it has its own soul, its own depth," she said.

She also said the city needed more shaded areas so people were encouraged to walk around.

"We should be reminding people that we do live in a tropical city, and there is a need for shade."

Ms Fong Lim said Darwin was on the cusp of an amazing economic boom and more needed to be done to make sure the maximum benefits were achieved without losing the city's lifestyle.

The NT government has said Darwin is likely to boom in coming years from the benefits of the $US34 billion ($A32.60 billion) Inpex gas project and other projects on the drawing board to exploit the territory's resources.

In addition to a big influx of Inpex workers, 2500 more US troops are due to arrive in Darwin by 2017.

Ms Fong Lim said Americans she knew appreciated the Australian sense of humour and had a good sense of community.

"I would hope to be seeing a lot more people will be helping out on fundraising sausage sizzles," she said.

Ms Fong Lim is the daughter of Alec Fong Lim, who was Darwin's lord mayor from 1984 until 1990.

Meanwhile mayoral hopeful Trevor Jenkins, who gained notoriety on his "Vote 1 Homeless Bum" ticket, has received about 12 per cent of first preferences, with 70 per cent of the votes counted.

Jenkins, well known around Darwin for his sculptures of rubbish he leaves next to roads, had received an endorsement from visiting Canadian comedian Tom Green.

In Alice Springs, incumbent lord mayor Damien Ryan has nearly 44 per cent of the popular vote, with 72 per cent of all votes counted, and is well in front of his nearest rival.